Ohio Cannabis Laws & Regulations
Ohio is the 7th most populous state in the United States having over 11.7 million residents. Named after the Ohio River, ohiːyo' means “great river” in Seneca. Columbus, Ohio, the largest city in the state, boasts a population of over 700,000 residents. In Columbus, you can take the opportunity to walk through the gorgeous Park of Roses, the Chadwick Arboretum, or Topiary Park. In Ohio’s second-largest city, Cleveland, you can immerse yourself in the musical history of the state by visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. You won’t want to miss visiting Playhouse Square, the United States’ second-largest performing arts center which consists of 10 theatres.
Ohio legalized medical marijuana in June of 2016 and possession of cannabis has been decriminalized across the state since 1975. There are over 224,000 registered Ohio medical marijuana patients. As of 2023, Ohio has 144 active dispensaries.
Is Weed Legal in Ohio?
YES. Cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational purposes in Ohio.
Voters approved legal adult-use cannabis in the November 2023 election, and the law won't be fully enacted in December 2023. Adult use sales won't start for at least a year, so only but only people with a medical marijuana card in Ohio can legally purchase cannabis until then.
Weed Legalization in Ohio
Possession of cannabis in Ohio was decriminalized in 1975, and individuals could receive a maximum $150 fine for possessing up to 3.5 ounces of cannabis. It wasn’t until 2015 that activists could get a legalization measure on the ballot.
In June 2016, Governor John Kasich signed off on HB 523 to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio. The bill allowed for a two-year window to establish the program and in this time, allowed qualified patients to travel to Michigan or another legal medical cannabis state to obtain their medicine legally. In 2016, Senate Bill 204 was signed into law, repealing the requirement that possession of cannabis or other illegal drugs is a mandated six-month driver’s license suspension.
Since 2015 several cities and municipalities within Ohio have passed ordinances to decriminalize cannabis further. Such efforts saw penalties for possession reduced to $10 or even eliminated in Columbus and Cleveland.
Official sales of medical marijuana in Ohio began in January of 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, regulations were passed to allow patients to place phone orders and enable curbside pick-up at dispensaries.
In 2023, voters fully legalized recreational cannabis with the November ballot. Legal sales are expected to begin late in 2024.
How to Buy Legal Weed in Ohio
Individuals over the age of 18 with the following qualifying conditions are permitted to obtain a medical marijuana card in Ohio and purchase cannabis:
- AIDS
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Arthritis
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
- Chronic migraines
- Complex region pain syndrome
- Crohn’s disease
- Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- Huntington’s disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pain that is either chronic and severe or intractable
- Parkinson’s disease
- Positive status for HIV
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sickle cell anemia
- Spasticity
- Spinal cord disease or injury
- Terminal illness
- Tourette syndrome
- Traumatic brain injury
- Ulcerative colitis.
Minors under 18 must have a parent or guardian consent to treatment for a medical marijuana recommendation, and the parent or guardian must act as a caregiver. Minors are not allowed to go into a dispensary and make a purchase; their designated caregiver must do so for them.
There is no special cannabis tax in Ohio. Instead, cannabis sales are subject to the regular state sales tax of 5.25%, plus additional local sales tax if applicable.
The recreational retail tax for cannabis sales will be 10% once legal sales begin. Medical cannabis patients will be exempt from this tax.
Is Cannabis Delivery Available in Ohio?
No, marijuana delivery is not available for either medicinal or recreational purposes in the state of Ohio.
Where Can You Legally Use Weed in Ohio?
Cannabis can be legally used in the following areas in Ohio:
✅ Private properties such as residences
Cannabis CANNOT be consumed in:
❌ Public spaces
❌ Motorized vehicles, for both driver and passengers
What are the Restrictions on Cannabis Possession in Ohio?
Under OAC 3796:8-2-01, medical marijuana patients in Ohio have access to the following forms of medical marijuana: oils, tinctures, capsules, plant material, edibles, lotions, creams, and transdermal patches. Use of medical marijuana by smoking or combustion is prohibited, but the law does allow for vaping plant material and a metered oil or solid preparation for vaping.
Medical marijuana products cannot be made or advertised in any form that is attractive to children per OAC 3796:8-2-03. Ohio medical marijuana patients have their purchases calculated based on a 90-day supply split into two 45-day fill periods.
Cannabis cultivation for personal use is not allowed under Ohio law, even with a medical marijuana recommendation.
Under OAC 3796:8-2-04 if Ohio medical marijuana patients would like to purchase a product at a dispensary, they must purchase “no less than a whole day unit”:
- Cannabis plant material: 2.83g
- Cannabis topicals: Up to 295mg of THC
- Cannabis edibles & tinctures: Up to 110mg of THC
- Cannabis vaporization Oils: Up to 590mg of THC
Ohio medical marijuana patients without a terminal illness are allowed the following limits:
- Cannabis plant material: 9oz
- Cannabis topicals: 26.55g of THC
- Cannabis edibles & tinctures: 9.9g of THC
- Cannabis vaporization Oils: 53.1g of THC
Ohio medical marijuana patients who are terminal have higher limits of the following:
- Cannabis plant material: 10oz
- Cannabis topicals: 29.5g of THC
- Cannabis edibles & tinctures: 11g of THC
- Cannabis vaporization Oils: 59g of THC
During vehicular transportation:
- Cannabis may either be in a sealed container, or
- Stored in the trunk of the vehicle
Legal limits for recreational possession or cultivation haven't been established yet.
Have Questions About Getting a Med Card in Ohio?
Learn more about medical cannabis and how NuggMD Ohio can help you get your card with our extensive set of patient resources:
